BACIO Newsletter - July 15, 2026

Edward Hutton's Italy
Assisi: Cimabue and Giotto

Edward Hutton regarded the Church of San Francesco as the source of all the Italian art to come. Below he discusses Cimabue and Giotto, even though many of the frescoes attributed to Giotto may have been done by his followers. First, the lower church. 

In the right-hand transept is the grandly impressive work of Cimabue, a great fresco of the Madonna enthroned with angels and with St. Francis himself standing there. Though not painted in the saint’s lifetime, it is, one might think, a fine portrait and well preserved, whereas the figures of Virgin and Child have suffered much from restoration...

Please support and visit Dr. Frank Stefano's blogs, Giorgione et al and Edward Hutton's Italy, where he is posting on his major interpretations.